Strategic Plan Final

ESSEX BIODIVERSITY PROJECT STRATEGIC PLAN 2009-2014

To rebuild Biodiversity and engage people with their environment

January 2009

Essex Biodiversity Project:

 Works with partners to deliver biodiversity gains that meet action plan targets  Ensures partners are proud to be part of an organisation that consistently delivers key projects on the ground  Inspires the people of Essex to protect and enhance their environment

Essex Biodiversity Project – Strategic Plan 1

About the Essex Biodiversity Project We are a strong and active partnership of more than 40 organisations working to protect biodiversity in Essex. These partners are fundamental to our success and include Essex County Council and other local authorities, Essex Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Essex Field Club, Essex & Suffolk Water, the Environment Agency, John Laing, Butterfly Conservation, RSPB and RHS, amongst others.

Focusing on the 28 special species and 15 habitats listed in the Essex Biodiversity Action, we deliver direct action projects; provide professional advice on species and habitats; act as a catalyst to promote landscape-scale projects; undertake research; influence strategies and policies at local and regional levels; and highlight the importance of biodiversity. Since 1999, we have steadily built up a high profile within the nature conservation community with a reputation for ‘getting the job done’ and delivering tangible outputs.

The Unique Selling Point of Essex Biodiversity Project EBP is unique in the East of England in supporting not only a Coordinator, but also a Project Officer, both of whom work with a steering group of 18 representative people to guide the direction of the project. This ensures that EBP consistently makes a substantial contribution towards conserving biodiversity and meeting Essex Biodiversity Action Plan targets through practical projects that deliver biodiversity gains on the ground.

Our aim The successful implementation of the Essex Biodiversity Action Plan.

Our vision EBP creates opportunities to engage partners in targeted and effective projects, that protect the special species and characteristic habitats of Essex in the face of many environmental pressures, including unsustainable urban and industrial development, climate change, pollution, neglect and the impact of non-native invasive species on our local wildlife and habitats.

EBP act as the ‘hub’ of conservation information and communication, encouraging participation by all sectors of society, promoting awareness of the importance of biodiversity and supporting partner organisations in their legal and other responsibilities towards biodiversity.

EBP record, monitor and understand our biodiversity resource and disseminate that information to those that can use it to safeguard that resource.

It is vital that EBP inspire the people of Essex to value biodiversity for its intrinsic value, the economic benefits it brings and the wellbeing it can provide for us all.

The Strategic Plan The EBP Steering Group recognised the need for a strategic plan to guide the direction of the Project’s work over the medium and longer term. This strategy is flexible and may evolve to meet changing priorities and opportunities as they arise. However these themes will drive EBP to achieve appreciable and significant gains for biodiversity in Essex.

This strategic plan has the following main themes:

A Biodiversity Action Plan review and monitoring, identifying realistic targets at a local level

B Projects – small and landscape-scale

C Providing value for partners – strong partnership with sound financial base; raising awareness of the importance of biodiversity and community engagement

D Development and Planning – influencing local and regional government policy

A Biodiversity Action Plan Review and Monitoring Review of the 1999 Essex Biodiversity Action Plan (EBAP) to bring the plans up to date and in line with the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (www.ukbap.org.uk). Revised plans will identify quantifiable, realistic, attainable and costed targets to be achieved at county and district level. BAP targets will be monitored at district and county level and entered into Natural England’s database, Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARS) (www.ukbap-reporting.org.uk).

A1 EBAP reviewed with completed plan by the end of 2009  Draft EBAP with costings to Natural England end of March 2009 - Coordinator  Draft EBAP launched at 10 year celebration event in July 2009 – Coordinator  Completed EBAP on website, promoted and in action by Dec 2009  Enter new EBAP onto BARS – Coordinator

A2 Update of plan contents and format in line with regional and national BAP as changes occur.  EBAP amended as appropriate – Coordinator

A3 Monitor achievement of EBAP targets  Gather information on actions completed by partners annually – Coordinator & Project Officer  Capture and celebrate success for the EBP annual report and meeting – Coordinator & Project Officer

A4 Identify mechanism for entering EBAP actions and achievements onto BARS  Collate information for the next national BARS reporting round – Coordinator & Project Officer  Identify training needs and provide training as appropriate – Coordinator B Projects Delivery of small and landscape-scale projects that focus on EBAP species & habitats with public engagement. Small scale habitat management, survey and monitoring projects are fundamental to achieving EBAP targets and the success of EBP and we will assist with expertise, funding and project management. Effective large-scale projects have been developed throughout the UK, drawing in new partners and the public, encompassing a range of species and habitats and helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.

B1 Identify and act as catalyst in initiating new landscape-scale projects supporting Living Landscapes LI10.1  Identify and follow through new potential large projects as they arise with public and commercial partners - Coordinator & Project Officer  EBP to lead on three Living Landscape areas and deliver vision statement during 2009 - Coordinator  EBP to lead on three Living Landscape areas and deliver vision statement during 2010 - Coordinator

B2 Deliver small scale EBAP species and habitat projects  Assist parish councils to identify and deliver local projects – Coordinator & Essex Biodiversity Project – Strategic Plan 4

Project Officer  Develop and deliver projects through local BAP forums – Coordinator & Project Officer  Identify and follow through potential projects as they arise with public and commercial partners - Coordinator & Project Officer

B3 Support Local Wildlife Sites Project NI 197  Provide biodiversity expertise - Project Officer

C Providing value for partners, raising awareness of the importance of biodiversity and community engagement a) Maintain a strong partnership through drawing in a wide range of partners and providing tangible benefits and value for partners. Future fund raising activity will focus on increasing the proportion of income from outside the government sector. b) Promote awareness of the importance of biodiversity within all sectors of society in Essex and encourage participation in conservation activities.

C1 Ensure EBP attracts at minimum of £90 k funding annually (adjusted for inflation year on year) to ensure continuity - this is comprised of core funding £70 k, Project fund £20K.  Update and implement funding strategy – Coordinator

C2 Work with new corporate and public sectors partners to raise awareness and implement biodiversity actions  Forge links with public sector departments – Coordinator & Project Officer  Work with corporate sector to raise awareness and implement biodiversity actions – Coordinator

C3 Act as hub of biodiversity information and communication  Maintain and regularly update the EBP website – Coordinator  Produce and circulate the Biologue newsletter – Coordinator

C4 Ensure there are clear benefits to EBP partners  Utilise media effectively to publicise biodiversity issues and events – Coordinator & Project Officer  Provide access to biodiversity expertise and project management – Project Officer  Hold annual celebration of biodiversity in Essex meeting - Coordinator  Produce annual report highlighting biodiversity work in Essex - Coordinator  Identify and present an annual biodiversity award for excellence – Coordinator  Provide linkage with other initiatives and represent Essex at the Regional Biodiversity Forum D Development and Planning Influence local government policy towards considering the needs of biodiversity and helping local authorities to meet their legal obligations under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006.

D1 Raise awareness and disseminate information on the implementation of the NERC Act 2006  Deliver through the Living Landscapes initiative - Coordinator

D2 Input into district Local Development Frameworks and Community Strategies  Provide input through Local Strategic Partnerships – Coordinator  Raise awareness and update as required the ‘Integrating Biodiversity into Development’ website – Coordinator

D3 Support Biological Records Initiative in Essex (BRIE)  Participate in the BRIE steering group – Coordinator  Supply biological data derived from EBP projects to BRIE and the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) – Coordinator